plate no. 7938

Portrait of N. Svendonskaya

Aristarkh Lentulov, 1915

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigureflowersdressreligious objectbackground

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing, layering, and capturing a likeness with simplified forms. It also provides practice in creating patterns and textures with brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color for the background, figure, and dress.
step 03
Add the main shadows and highlights to define the form of the face and body.
step 04
Begin adding the floral pattern to the dress, focusing on the placement and color variations.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 06
Add the necklace and other small details.
step 07
Adjust the colors and values as needed to create a cohesive and balanced composition.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights.

color palette

primary · purple · yellow · green · white

secondary · orange · red · blue

Mix purples from red and blue, and adjust with white for lighter tones. Achieve greens by mixing blue and yellow, and vary the shades with white or brown. Orange is created by mixing red and yellow.

techniques